Flexible air connecter to motors



March 3, 1931. w, sMlTH 1,795,266

FLEXIBLE AIR CONNEGTER TO MOTORS Filed Nov. 9, 1929 I5 Sheets-Sheet l Waiter H-SWJZ INVENTG ATTORNEY w. H. SMITH 1,795,266

March 3, 1931.

FLEXIBLE AIR CONNECTER TO MOTORS Filed Nov. 9, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 may a smai INVE NTOR wm ew March 3, 1931. w, s I 1,795,266

FLEXIBLE AIR CONNECTER TO MOTORS Filed Nov. 9, 1929 a Sheets-Sheet s Ill L 4 25v 39:5 i

IHVEHTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1 931 meat-e Fries FLEXIBLE AIR GONNECT'ER TO MOTORS Application filed November 9, 1929. Serial No. 406,087.

This invention relates to conductors and connecters for fluids, and especially to an apparatus associated with electric railway motors mount-ed on an electric car truck of the 5 railway type, the conductor or air duct be ing common to a motor or a series of such motors mounted under the railway car body or locomotive;

It is the purpose of the invention to pro- 1 vide a very simple construction of flexible connection between an air conductor on an electric railway car and the motors for conveying air to the latter, the construction and arrangement of said flexible connection being such that it is self-aligning and self connecting, therefore avoiding the heretofore necessity of getting under the car in order to make the connection, v

Previously, there have been a number of V different designs of air conductors used in.

railway service but, when inflated are more or less irregular and'present obstructions to the free passage of air there-through. This results in a reduction of air which could be transmitted. In certain other types of conductors a flexible tube connects from the side of the air duct and in turn with the motor casing, and which has since been found very unsatisfactory, owing to the sections of the flexible tube becoming upturned individually as well as being deranged with respect to each other, hence resulting in an under-ventilated motor because of a reduction of air which could otherwise be transmitted. In these various types of connecters there were no provisions made to take care of the irregularities or relative movement between the electric car body and the motors, and yet enable the connecters to function as such for the irregularities and relative movements between the conductor and the motors.

In carrying out the just previously menwithout individual distortion or derangement are entirely tioned purpose it is the aim to provide a bellows connection between the air conductor and the motor of the electric railway car, to-

gether with resilient or yieldable connection having a cantilever action, the lower end of the bellows being so associated with the motor casing as to have a sliding actionwith relation to the motor, the yieldable connection between the air conductor and motor cas ing (whether it involves a cantilever-action or the action usually resulting from a coil spring) maintaining the lower end of the bellows at all times in contact with the cas ing of the motor, allowing for any irregularities or relative movement between the motors and the air conductor, and thereby preventing any-loss of power, and insuring a maximum transmission of air to the motors.

It is to be understood that the particulars plate of the bellows, showing the leaf springs,

which connect between the air conductor and the plate, which has sliding relation with the motor.- Figure 2 1s a view 1n elevation of the air conductor of an electric railway car, showing the blower and. portions of two motors, and illustrating the bellows connections between the motors as well as the yieldab'le connections, and also showing the center. plate structure of the truck in section. V

Figure 3 is aview inside elevation of a portion of Figure 2,, showing one of the bellows and a portion of the motor and illustrating the yieldable connection, having a cantilever spring system. a

Figure 4 is asectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 2, but illustrating the parts below the air conduit in elevation.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through a modified construction, illustrating a coil spring yieldable connection between the conductor and the motor.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, 1 identifies an air conductor adapted for conveying air from a blower 2 to the motors 3 and a, and mounted in the conductor are deflectors 5 and 6, the former extending half the height of the passage through the conductor 1, while the latter extends the full height of the passage. The air which is not deflected by the deflector 5 into the motor 3, passes and is baifled oil by the deflector 6 into the motor 4.

Connecting between the air conductor and the motors 3 and l are bellows 7 and 8, which due to their construction, permit of relative movement between air conductor and the motors.

Each bellows comprises upper anc. lower circular ring plates 9 and 10, the former being bolted at 11 to the bottom wall 12 of the air conductor, while the latter is riveted at 13 or otherwise connected to a relatively heavy ring plate 1a, which bears and slides upon the face of a substantially raised circular portion 16 of a section of the motor. The engagement between the substantially circular ring plate 1% and the face of the substantially raised portion 16 allows for any irregularities and relative movement between the air conductor and the motor ouring the travel of the electric railway car. Each bellows proper is made up of a plurality of relatively heavy circular canvas sections 17, the outer marginal edges of alternate adjacent sections are bound with tape 18, sewed or stitched at 19, while the inner alternate adjacent edges of the sections 17 are likewise bound with tape, sewed and stitched at 20, the bellows allowing for any relative movement and irregularities between the air conductor and the motor. The upper and lower canvas sections 21 of each bellows are taped, stitched or sewed to the upper and lower sections 17 as shown at 22. In this manner of constructing the bellows provides for a durable passage 23 between the conductor 1 and the motor.

Referring to Figures 1 and 1 in comparison with Figures 3 and 5 it is to be noted that the raised portion 16 of the motor casing and the plate 14: are enlarged at diametrically opposite points, thereby making provision for the lugs or cars 24:, which are carried by the plate 14'. The reason for enlarging diametrically opposite portions of the plate 14 is to position the lugs or ears so that they are beyond to one side and free of the bellows, to such an extent as not to interfere with the relative movements of the walls of the bellows, during the movements of the air conductor relative to the motors.

These lugs or ears carry transversely disposed pins 25, which as shown provide fulcrums for the forked ends 26 of the leaf springs 27. In other words the forks of the movable ends of the leaf springs are formed into rolls or sleeves 28, which receive and lit the end portions of the pins 25, allowing for any pivotal action that may take place during the relative movement between the air conductor and the motor.

The other ends of the springs 27 are positioned between plates 29 and 30, through which and through the springs, bolts or screws or any other suitable means at 31 may pass and be threaded to the lower plate 12 of the air conductor, and to which lower plate 12 the lower flanges 33 of the air con ductor are riveted as at at. The upper flanges 35-of the walls of the air conductor are riveted together at 36. In this manner the springs 27 are carried by the air conductor, and the air conductor moves relative to the motors and vice versa, the springs provide for a cantilever spring system, the plate 14 acting to accommodate itself to the face of the casing of the motor.

Referring to Figure 6 it is to be noted that modified construction is provided, and in this construction the circular plate 37 is provided with upstanding flanges 38, which extend across the diameter of the plate 37 and are spaced sufficiently to receive the lower end 39 of a belt or pin 4.0, th re being a pivot pin 41 passing through the flanges and through the bolt.

'The upper end of tae bolt 40 has a vertical movement through a bearing 42 of a boss d3 of a bracket 14, which is bolted on the lower wall 45 of the interior of the air conductor as shown at 46. in this manner the bracket is carried by the air conductor, the bottom of which has an opening con-. necting with the bellows 47, which is similar in construction to the bellows in the other figures.

A. plate or ring 18 engages around the lower end of the bolt 4-0 and interposed between the bolt 40 and the lower extremity of the boss 43 is a coil spring 49, which constitutes a substitute for the cantilever. Such an action of the bolt will permit of a yieldable movement between the air conductor and the motor, and due to e pivotal connection 41, provision is made for any for Md and back and relative movement between the motor and. the air conductor.

he invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. in a flexible connection as set forth, the combination with an air conductor and a motor, of a bellowsconnected to the conductor and having a relative sliding mount ing on the casing of the motor, and yieldable means between the air conductor and the lower end of the bellows.

2. In a flexible connectlon as set forth, the

combination with an air conductor and motor spaced therebelow, of a bellows having its upper end fixed to the lower wall of the air conductor and its lower end having relative sliding movements on the casing of the motor, and yieldable cantilever means between the air conductor and the lower end of the bellows.

3. In a fiexibleconnection as set forth, the combination with an air conductor and motor spaced there-below, of a bellows having its upper end fixed to the lower wall of the air conductor and its lower end having relative sliding movements on the casing of the motor, and yieldable cantilever means between the air conductor and the lower end of the bellows, said yieldable cantilever means being disposed at diametrically opposite points of the bellows.

4. In a flexible connection as set forth, an air conductor, a motor spaced there-below, a bellows having its upper end fixed relative to the lowerwall of the air conductor, said bellows hav ng a substantially circular facing ring plate at its lower end and having a sliding engagement with a bearing facing of the motor casing, the bellows constituting an air passage between the conductor and the motor, said substantially circular ring facing plate at the lower end of the bellows being enlarged at diametrically opposite points, a pair of yieldable cantilever springs secured to the lower wall of the air conductor at cer tain of their ends, and the other ends operatively mounted on the diametrically opposite enlarged positions of the facing plate at the lower end of the bellows,

5. In a flexible connection as set forth, an air conductor, a motor spaced below, a bellows fixed to the bottom of the air conductor and constituting a passage of communication with the motor, said bellows comprising circular canvas sections operatively united at their inner and outer alternate edges, a circular facing plate on the lower end of the bellows slidably engaged with a bearing facing on the motor casing, said circular facing plate having its diametrically opposite portions enlarged, yieldable cantilever springs fastened to the air conductor at cer-V tain of their ends, and their other ends pivotally mounted on the enlarged portions of said circular facing plate.

6. In a flexible connection as set forth, an air conductor, a motor spaced there-below, a bellows having its upper end fixed relative to the lower wall of the air conductor, said bellows having a substantially circular fac-' ing ring plate at its lower end and having a sliding engagement with a bearing facing of the motor casing, the bellows constituting an air passage between the conductor and the motor, said substantially circular ring facing plate at the lower end of the bellows being enlarged at diametrically opposite points, a pair of yieldable cantilever springs secured to the lower wall of the air conductor at certain oftheir ends, and the other ends operatively mounted on the diametrically opposite enlarged positions of the facing plate at the lower end of the bellows.

7. In a flexible connection as set forth, an air conductor, a motor'spaced below, a bellows fixed to the bottom of the air conductor and constituting a passage of communication with the motor, said bellows comprising circular canvas sections operatively united at their inner and outer alternate edges, a circular facing plate on the lower. end. of the bellows slidably engaged with a'bearing facing on the motor casing, said circular facing plate having its diametrically opposite portions enlarged, yieldable cantilever springs fastened to the air conductor at certain of their ends, and their other ends pivotally mounted on the enlarged portions of said circular facing plate, said pivotal mounting comprising ears on the enlarged portions of the facing plate and forked ends on the cantilever springs including pin connections with the ears.

8. In a flexible connection as set forth, an

air conductor, a motor spaced there-below, a bellows having its upper end fixed relative to the lower wall of the, air conductor, said bellows having a substantially circular facing ring plate at its lower end and having a sliding engagement with a bearing facing of the motor casing, the bellows constituting an air passage'between the conductor and the motor, said substantially circular ring facing plate at-the' lower end of the bellowsbeing enlarged at diametrically opposite points, a pair of yieldable cantilever springs secured to the lower wall of the air'conductor at certain of their ends, and the other ends operative'ly mounted on the diametrically opposite enlarged positions of the facing plate at the lowerend of the bellows, said pivotal mounting comprising ears on the enlarged portions of the facing plate and forked ends on the cantilever springs including pin connections with the ears. f

9; In a flexible connection as set forth, an air conductor, a motor spaced there-below, a passage of communication between the conductor and the motor, said passage having a yielding wall, the upper end of'which is fastened to the air conductor, the wall end having a sliding bearing on the'motor casing, and cantilever yieldable means between the air conductor and the lower end of the wall of said passage of communication.

10. In a flexible connection as set forth, an air conductor, a motor spaced there-below, a bellows connected to the lower wall of the air conductor and having its lower end slidably connected with the motor casing, said bellows constituting a communication between the motor casing and the air conductor, a bearing housed within the air conductor, and means including a coil spring operatively connecting the housed bearing and the lower end of the bellows.

11. In a flexible connection as herein indicated an air conductor carried by a railway car body, a motor on the wheel truck of the car, a passage of communication between the conductor and motor, and means for selfaligning and self-connecting the passage of communication with the motor.

12. In a flexible connection as herein inlicated the combination with an air conoucor to be carried by the body of an electric railway car, of a motor to be carried by awheeled truck on which the car body is rela tively associated, a passage of communication of accordion type connecting the conductor and the motor, said passage of communication with the motor incluciing a cantilever yieldable system for self-aligning and self-connecting when the car body is relatively associated on the truck.

13. In a flexible connection as herein in dicated the combination with an air conductor to be carried by the body of an electric railway car, of a motor to be carried by a wheeled truck on which the car body is relatively associated, a passage of communication of accordion type connecting the conductor and the motor, said passage of communication with the motor including a cantilever system for self-aligning and self-connecting when the car body is relatively associated on the truck, and yieldable means insuring constant and positive pressure engage ment of the self-aligning and self-connecting passage of communication with the casing of the motor.

In testimony whereof he aflixes his signature.

WALTER H. SMITH. 

